The best part of grilling up your Super Bowl food is that you can do most of the work the day before. Many grilled foods benefit from being marinated so you can load up the refrigerator with an armies worth of food and throw it on the grill for a quick cook on game day. Plan ahead and you'll be watching the game instead of cooking. And if you watch what you're buying and how you prepare it you'll end up with leaner and healthier Super Bowl fare than usual
If you are having a big crowd over to watch the game it is always best to go with foods that can be customized by the person doing the eating. This way everyone is happy. Things like personal pizzas, fajitas, hot dogs, and hamburgers are perfect. Of course you'll want loads of grilled hot wings and potato chips. Make sure you have plenty of toppings, dips and dressings to give people lots of variety and you'll be able to keep everyone well feed and happy through the whole game.
The secret to pulling off this big day successfully is to prepare as much as you can in advance. This is where resealable plastic bags really come in handy. Chop vegetables, make up hamburger patties, marinade chicken wings and slice meat the night before. Seal it all up tight and put it in the refrigerator. When grilling time comes all you have to do is light the grill and start cooking. Nothing here will take more than about 10 minutes to cook and you can stay with the game all day.
Of course real barbecue gives you the real advantage here. If you are a smoker you can have brisket, pulled pork, or ribs smoked and ready well before the game starts. Wrap is all up tightly and keep it warm in your oven, slow cooker or an insulated cooler for serving anytime.
*According the the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
